Improvement in water-meters



'UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE GERARD SIOKELS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, JAMES W. PRESTON, AND RUFUS S. LEWIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-METERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,735, dated October 9, 1866.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, GERARD SioKELs, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and use ful Improvement in Vater-Meters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a plan view of the inte rior ofthe main box or case with a section ofthe cylinders and pistons. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section, and Figs. 3 and 4L are details of the piston.

Similar letters indicate like parts in the different figures.

The object of my invention is to produce an apparatus of simple and cheap construction which will readily and accurately measure the amount of water passing through the same; and the invention consists in operating the valves of the pistons by means of two sliding yokes, one of which is connected with the pistons and the other with the valves of the same, in connection with a weight or its equivalent, by which, as the pistons and yokes move for ward and back by the influx and outiiow of the water, the valves will be moved automatically in opposite directions, closing the ports of one piston and opening those ot' the other, and vice versa, at each alternate reciprocating movement of the said yokes and pistons, the movement of the said weight or its equivalent being governed by inclines on the inner and opposite sides of the case.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the case or shell containing the operating parts. B is a yoke, consisting of a cross-piece with two side pieces or legs, l, extending forward, and attached in any suitable manner at their ends to the pistons.` These legs l may form a part of or be attached to the yoke B and serve as piston-rods.

At the rear end of the yoke B, and forming a part of the same at each side, is a V-incline or wedge-shaped projection, E, upon each side of the inclined portion ot' which is made to bear alternately the cylindrical weight H.

The yoke B is supported at each side upon ways G, so a-s to slide freely thereon. Encompassing the rear and partially the sides of the yoke Bv is a yoke, O, which iests and is allowed to slide freely on projections on the yoke B. Upon each side, and forming a part of the yoke C, are two horns or projections, b, Fig. 2, being arranged one on each side at the rear ot' the yoke, and the other two a short distance from the rst named, their inner or opposing edges being curved to facilitate the motion of a weight, H, hereinafter to bedescribed.

Upon arms a', projecting inwardly on either side of the forward part ofthe arms of the .yoke B, are pivoted two bent or angle levers,

F. One end of each lever is lifted so as to move freely in a notch or slot in the sliding yoke C, as shown at c, or it may be so connected with the said yoke as to be readily operated by it, and the other ends of the levers are connected in an suitable manner with and made to operate the valves s, which open and close the ports of the pistons, as will be evident in Fig. l.

H represents a cylindrical weight of metal, having friction-wheels h loosely attached at each end, and made to bear upon the curved sides of the horns b, and one side of the V- incline or wedge-shaped projections E of the yoke B.

Attached to the inner and opposite sides of the casing A are inclines D, arranged, respectively, near the rear and forward ends of the sides, as shown in Figs. l and 2, for the purpose of causing the weight H to rise at the end of each forward and backward movement of the yokes B and C.

The pistons l? are formed with circular rims fitted to slide snugly and easily within the cyl inders R, two of which latter are attached to and form a part of the casing A, the water being caused to iiow into one and ont from the other, as indicated by the arrows.

Pins (marked p) are attached to the yoke B, and serve to operate the indicating apparatus in any suitable manner.

The centers of the pistons are formed each of two slotted plates, as shown in Fig. 3, the slots constituting the port-s for the passage ot' the water, and between these plates is fitted a sliding metallic plate or valve, s, which opens and closes the said ports. Each plate or valve s is provided with a projection, c, so as to ad-` mit of its being operated by the levers F. The

valves and ports of each piston are so arranged that while those of one piston are open the others will be closed, and vice versa.

The operation is as follows: rlhe water entering the cylinder presses against and forces forward the piston Whose valves are closed, the other piston being at the same time carried forward in consequence ot its connection with the yoke B. As the pistons approach the end of the stroke, the weight H, being carried forward in front ot' the V-incline E, is forced up the inclines D on the sides ofthe case. The yokes with the V-incline E continue their forward motion until the apex ot the said ineline passes the center of the under part of the Weight H, when the latter, hy its own gravity, drops down upon the opposite incline, striking the horns b b of the "alve-yoke C, and causing them to move rapidly in the opposite direction, thus operating the levers F sufficiently to change the relative positions ot' the valves, opening the ports in the pistons which have just been closed, and elosin g those of the other piston. rl`he pistonswish the yokes and Weight H are then driven in the opposite direction until the opposite extreme is reached, when the Weight H is again similarly shifted and the operation alternately repeated, the Water owing through one cylinder into the case, and out ofthe saine through the other cylinder.

Should the weight H not be found sufcient tol actuate readily the valve-yoke C, a spring may be added to operate in connection with the said Weight, or a spring may be substituted entirely for the Weight, the main object of my invention being to provide a means for readily operating the valve-yoke.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Operating the valves by means of two Sliding yokes, in connection with a Weight or its equivalent, substantial] y in the manner herein set forth.

2. The sliding yoke B, attached to the pistons, and provided with the Wedge-shaped projections E, or their equivalent, for the purpose of changing the position of the valves. sub- 'sta-ntiall y as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The yoke C, provided with the horns or .projections l b, as and for the purpose set forth. Y

4. The Weight H, or its equivalent, in 'combination with the inclines D, as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination of the yoke C with the levers F and valves s, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination of the yoke B, the yoke C, levers F, valves s, and Weight H, or its equivalent, when opera-ting substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of two suhscribing witnesses.

GERARD SICKELS. Witnesses:

J. E. Anims, EDWD. F. ADAMS. 

